Pressure electrolyzer



Jam. 10, 1950 R. c. RYMAN PRESSURE ELECTROLYZER 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledApril 26, 1947 xml l5 l s Jam. EG, 195@ R. c. RYMAN PRESSUREELEcTRoLYzER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed April 26, 1947 Patented Jan. 10,1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,494,264 PRESSURE ELECTROLYZERvRexford C. Ryman, San Francisco, Calif. Application April 26, 1947,Serial No. 744,168l

This invention relates to the production of hydrogen and oxygen underpressure by the electrolysis of water and shall be known as a pressureelectrolyzer.

The primary object for the invention of Y a pressure electrolyzer is thesubsequent utilization of the resulting products and pressure for powerproduction by means of turbines, jet-propulsion. internal and/orexternal combustion enginesor any combination thereof.

The secondary object for the invention of a pressure electrolyzer is thesubsequent utilization of the resulting products and pressure forcommercial uses including the preparation of liquid or solidifiedhydrogen and/or oxygen.

Another object of the present invention is to simplify and improve theconstruction of electrolyzers to the better utilization of space.

Another object oi this invention is to provide a cell of the kindindicated in which the internal resistance is substantially constant anduniform over the entire area of the electrodes.

Another object of this invention is the provision that the constructionof the entire unit willwithstand very high internal pressures which maybe created by the formation of the respective gases and/or by theintroduction of additional electrolyte into the circuits to furthercompress the gases.

Further and other objects of the present invention will be hereinafterset forth in these speciiica.- tions and claims which are considered tobe preferred embodiments of the invention.

Proceeding now to a more detailed description, additional reference ismade to the accompanying drawings as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the embodiments of a two cellelectrode unit along the line 2-2 of Figure 3. The unit consists of twoelectrolyzer cells as indicated by 3 of Figure l; the electrolytecirculating system for the oxygen electrode 4 and the electrolytecirculating system for the hydrogen electrode 4a; the rinsing, coolingand collecting oxygen chamber 5 while 5a represents the rinsing, coolingand collecting hydrogen chamber; the cooling system 6; thewaterreservoir 'I for supplying the oxygen electrode while 'la is the waterreservoir for supplying the hydrogen electrode of which both (l and la)are connected with the water intake arrangement 8. The designation 9 isa combination pressure equalizer together with the withdrawal valves forthe gases.

Figure 2 is a vertical mid-section side view of an electrolyzer cell.The unit consists of the hydrogen spiral electrode I 0 with thespecialrectangu- 4 claims. (Cl. aci-239) Y 2 Y lar perforations and projectionsII; the porous diaphragm I2 separating the electrolyzer cell into twochambers; and I3 is the spiral oxygen electrode with the specialrectangular perforations and projections I4.

Figure 3 is a central horizontal top view directly above theelectrolyzer cells as indicated by line I-I of Figure l. The view ofFigure 3 discloses the base of the oxygen collecting chamber 5 and thebase of the hydrogen collecting chamber 5a and the top of the twoelectrolyzer cells as indicated by 3 of Figure l. Returning to. Figure 3the. two electrolyzer cells each outline the positions of the hydrogenelectrode I0, the porous diaphragm I2, and the oxygen electrode I3 intheir respective positions.

Figure 4 is a mid-section top horizontal view of the electrolyzer celldisclosing the hydrogen spiral electrode I0 with the special rectangularperforations and projections II; the porous diaphragm I2 separating theelectrolyzer cell into the two chambers; and I3 is the spiral oxygenelectrode with the special rectangular perforations and projections I4.

The invention consists of a cell or a group of cells equipped with tubespiral-type positive and negative electrodes, gas separation diaphragm,gas collecting chambers with connected accessories, all enclosed withina pressure resistant container and equipped with the means ofintroduction and the circulation of the electrolyte. The gas collectingchambers are utilized also as gas rinsing and cooling units. Thepositive electrode (I3 of Figure 2) which is the central unit of eachelectrolyzer cell is constructed of a sheet of metal, preferably sheetiron of No. 30 gauge or lower with a very small percentage of carboncontent, which is attached to a central pipe of small diameter. Thesheet metal is coiled in spirals around the pipe and the outer edge ofthe sheet metal is rmly attached to the adjacent spiral. The sheet metalhas special rectangular perforations with projections (I4 of Figure 2),systematically arranged to permit and guide a rising gas to pass towardthe center of the electrode. All coils of the spiral surrounding thecentral pipe of the positive electrode are spaced to permit the passageof gas from the lower extremity of the electrode to the top of theelectrolyzer cell. At the upper extremity of the electrode the sheetmetal is somewhat shorter than its central anchorage to permit thepassage of oxygen into the entrance which leads to the oxygen collectionchamber. No perforations or openings are provided into the centralpassagewayof 3 the pipe through the spirals as the passageway isutilized to permit the ilow of electrolyte from the storage supply ofthe electrolyte located in the oxygen collection chamber (5 of Figure 1)to the lower extremity of the electrolyzer cell. The arrangement inducesadditional ionization of the electrolyte While passing through theelectrode as Well as affording a direct passage of electrolyte from theoxygen collection chamber to the bottom of the electrolyzer cell whichalso iirtlier' ensures additional purity of gases produced. The' oxygenelectrode is covered with a coating of nickel approximately 0.003 inchthick.

Surrounding the anode or oxygenelectrode is. o

the gas separation porous diaphragm (I2 of Figure 2) which serves toprevent tlfiediifusion of the gases that develop on the ele c`trodes.,.The-j diaphragm divides the space Within each cell into two chambers,one containing the positive elecltrode and the other containing thenegative electrode. e

The cathode or hydrogen electrode (HJ of Figure.2) is the outer unitof'each electrolyzer: cell. It is constructed and assembled inasimilarbut reverse method than that of the oxygen electrode.. TheAsheetr metal. is attaclriedk inside of al much larger'cylindrical pipeandthe inner edge of the sheet metal is firmly attached to the adjacentspiral. The sheet metal. has specialk rectangular perforations withprojections (l i. of Figure 2.) systematically arrangedto permit. andguides. rising' gas to pass toward the perimeter of the electrode. Allcoils of thespiral electrode arespaced to permit the passage of. gasfrom. the lower ex;- tremity of theelectrode to thetop of theelectrolyzer cell. However, at thei upper extremity of the cathode thesheet metal is somewhat shorter than the cylindrical pipe to which itisattached andthe upper extremity or the sheet metal forms with theunderside base of the oxygen collection chamber a duct or passagewayfork nascenthydrogenmixed, with electrolyte whichis free .toliiovvoutside the perimeter of the oxygen. collection chamber directly intothe` base of the hydrogen collection chamber.

The; invention provides While in operation for' a continuous iiow of theelectrolyte-which consists ofwater and a catalyst. The circuit of theelec, trolyte-iiows from the electrolyzer cell to the reespective gascollecting chambers and:l return with each electrode assigned anindividual circuit. Natural circulation is augmented by mechanical'circulating pumps (l5 of Figure l) installed in the electrolyte circuitlines. Filters (Iliof Figure 1')- keep the electrolyte free fromsuspended matter.

The forced circulation of the electrolyte serves a number of'purposes.It assists in the preventionof local differences of electrolyteconcentration and? assists-1 to reduce polarization concentration. Also,the circulation of the electrolyte augments the limiting current densityand assists to pre-'- vent film formations of the gases on theV elec4``Atrodes. In addition, the circulation of the electrolyte provides' ameans' of continuous uniform rinsing of the electrolyzer cell and'assists in the maintenance of' a uniform temperature throughout theentire unit Another object of this invention is a provision forelectrode electrical connections (not dis;- closedin drawings) vfrom anoutside sourceoifdirect electrical current which emerges in the` circuitof the electrolyte through the electrodes to accomplish the separationof the water into its respectivev gases of hydrogen and oxygen.kAspreviously indicated the positiveiandAnegative electrodes are arrangedwith outlet openings to permit the passage of the electrolyte togetherwith the respective gases into their respective collection chambers.Wherever possible non-electric conduction materials are used in theconstruction of this invention with the exception of the electrodes andthe necessary electrical connections.

A n installation of this type of a pressure electrolyzer consists. ofthev requisite number of cells to fulfill 'the 'requirements' of vthepressures and the gases. The unit is complete with pressurebalanced gasWashers, coolers and with a waterfeed system.

While the foregoing embodiments of this basic invention are preferredembodiments, it is understood that it is not desired that the inventionbe limited to the'exact details of process, design or construction asshown and described as obvious modifications such as electrical currentreversal etci will occur tok any' personskilledin designing andconstruction Work. In other words this inventionpis a; basic inventionwhich has been. in various stages of development since 1918y and Willnotpermit'circumvention by a little ingenuity inchange'of design orconstruction. On the other hand, I am` aware andrealize that prior to myinvention, electrolyzers and pressure electro-` lyzersvhave been.invented with spiral electrodes, with perforations and projections inthe form ot spirals and corrugations variously arranged within pressure`resistant containers and which in some respects bear a similarity to myinvention. Ido not claimsuch electrolyzers or pressure electrolyzersbroadly; but with theioregoing explanation cindy-invention.

Iclairn:

1. A pressure electrolyzer for water electrolysis and comprising incombination a plurality oi cylindrical, electrolytic cells with spiralsheet electrodes, each in4 an upright position arranged side by side butelectrically insulated from each other excepting the electricalconnections by regular electrical. conductors and all said cells locatedWithinzthe base of an electrically insulated, cylinl drical, pressureresistant container, with each electrode ofi eachelectrolytic celldirectly connected for, gasand electrolyte passage to the up.- perregion of said pressure resistant container to a commonrgas rinsing,cooling and gas collecting chamber for each respective gas, saidpressure electrolyzer additionally equipped with waterstorage-tankslocated within the upper region of saidpressure resistantcontainer, each provided with an arrangement of pipes and valves wherebyWater is supplied to said storage tanks from ,an outsidefsourceand fed,as required, into the electrolyteo each;` said gas collecting chamberwith saicleach gas collecting chamber equipped with a filter and inletconduit locatedwithin and projected above the base, with each said inletconduit connected for electrolyte circulation to an individualmechanical pump from which outlet conduits'direct the circulationof saidelectrolyte to -thefbase of each electrodefor the return of saidelectrolyte through the electrodes to the said rinsingeandfcooling unitsaccompanied by-the nascent gasesrw'- l 2.Y A, pressure electrolyzer forwater electrolysisas described in claim 1 in which each electrolyticcell isequipped with an anode occupying the centrallposition of saidcell and comprises incombination; an electrically conducting centralpipefvvhich is also; utilized as an electrolyte con:4

7 5 duitftothe base of` the anode and about'W-hich is coiled sheet metalcontaining special rectangular, horizontal perforations with the insiderectangular areas remaining attached to the perforation topside andinclined outward to form projections and of which one edge oi said sheetmetal is securely attached to the said central pipe and spiraled to theperimeter of the electrode with the exterior edge of the said sheetmetal securely attached to the adjacent spiral with the saidperforations and projections spaced and arranged to guide and direct theflow of rising nascent oxygen and electrolyte contiguous to the saidelectrically conducting central pipe while the entire surface area ofsaid anode is nickle-plated to withstand the chemical action of nascentoxygen.

3. A pressure electrolyzer for water electrolysis as described in claim2 in which each electrolytic cell has a porous diaphragm surrounding theupright cylindrical section of the anode and separating the saidelectrolytic cell into two chambers of which one chamber comprises thesaid anode occupying an upright central position of the saidelectrolytic cell and the other chamber comprises the cathode whichvertically surrounds said anode chamber with the cathode occupying theperimeter position of the said electrolytic cell, while the said porousdiaphragm is attached to the oor of the oxygen rinsing, cooling andcollecting chamber and is retained in position by the specialprojections of the electrodes with the lower eX- tremity of the saidporous diaphragm joined to the base of the anode electrode.

4. A pressure electrolyzer for water electrolysis as described in claim3 in which each electrolytic cell is equipped with a cathode electrodesurrounding the upright cylindrical diaphragm and anode electrode whilethe former cathode occupies the perimeter area of said electrolytic celland comprises in combination a large cylindrical pipe which also servesas the outer Wall of said electrolytic cell and which has attachedinside, a coiled, spiraled sheet metal containing special rectangular,horizontal perforations with the inside rectangular areas remainingattached to the perforation topside and inclined outward to formprojections and with the innermost edge of said coiled and spiraledsheet metal securely attached to the adjacent spiral with the saidperforations and projections spaced and arranged to guide and direct theow of rising nascent hydrogen and electrolyte contiguous to the outerWall of said electrolytic cell.

REXFORD C. RYMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 816,355 McCarty Mar. 27, 19061,600,478 Lawaczeck Sept. 21, 1926 1,896,718 Noeggerath Feb. 7, 19332,007,096 Niederreither July 2, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date543,757 Germany Nov. 5, 1932 675,754 France Nov. 8, 1929 811,238 FranceJan. 14, 1937

